Research Brief
Setting Standards for Delivering High-Quality Care to Veterans with Invisible Wounds
May 9, 2022
The authors identified ten standards for the delivery of high-quality care for veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, substance use disorders, and mild traumatic brain injury. They also provide considerations for implementing and disseminating these standards as a first step to improve access to high-quality care for veterans with invisible wounds.
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Traumatic brain injuries and psychological health problems such as posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, and substance use, often referred to as invisible wounds, are common among U.S. military veterans who served in the era after September 11, 2001. Although there are effective treatments for these conditions, it has been challenging to identify places that provide such care, as there has not been a shared definition of what makes care high quality. In a previous study, high-quality care for invisible wounds was defined as care that is veteran-centered, accessible, and evidence-based and that includes outcome monitoring. Identifying standards to operationalize this definition is essential for improving access to high-quality, effective care. In this report, the authors recommend ten standards for the delivery of high-quality care for invisible wounds and provide considerations for implementing and disseminating these standards. Adoption of these standards of care would allow veterans, veteran-serving organizations, and payers to identify high-quality care providers and distinguish between good and poor care. The standards also provide a road map for providers that fall short of the benchmark and might need to invest in training and other resources to improve quality and demonstrate their ability to provide the best possible care for veterans living with invisible wounds.
Chapter One
Background
Chapter Two
Proposed Standards of High-Quality Care for Invisible Wounds
Chapter Three
Implementing Standards of High-Quality Care: Insights from Policymakers
Chapter Four
Recommendations
Appendix A
Evidence-Based Care for Depression and Substance Use Disorders
Appendix B
Standards of Care Assessed for Importance
This research was funded by the George W. Bush Institute, the Bob Woodruff Foundation, and Wounded Warrior Project and carried out within the Quality Measurement and Improvement Program in RAND Health Care.
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